Muslim Storytellers: An In-Community Retreat

This 4-day/3-night immersive experience offers a supportive space for Muslim writers and illustrators (published or unpublished) to craft and share their stories, with limited after dinner programming to connect with fellow retreaters and find ways to amplify Muslim voices and stories at our retreat and beyond. 

Thanks to funding from the Doris Duke Foundation (DDF), the Highlights Foundation is able to host programming to support Muslim Storytelling through 2025. Through the Building Bridges Program, DDF works to elevate U.S. Muslim storytelling with the goal of increasing mutual understanding and well-being among diverse populations for the benefit of building stronger, inclusive communities.

Tuition and Travel Stipend

This retreat provides full tuition, lodging, meals, and travel. Details for submitting your travel receipts will be in your confirmation email.

Please click “ACCEPT” to accept this invitation and proceed to fill out the registration fields.

With any questions or concerns, please reach out to support@highlightsfoundation.zendesk.com.

Muslim Storyteller Retreat Structure

This is a lightly scheduled program with optional/informal group activities (like discussions, writing sprints, drawing activities, and goal setting) and evening fireside chats (weather permitting).  There will be an abundance of time to work on your stories.

Tentative Schedule

PRE-WORKSHOP

• You will receive a link to our virtual classroom where you can introduce yourself to fellow creatives and engage in Highlights Foundation related resources (including our Community Standards).  There will not be coordinated critique groups or feedback at the retreat, if you are interested in exchanging work with others, please start a discussion in the classroom and find other writers who would like to meet.
• We encourage you to bring projects with you to the retreat at various stages in-progress, as you will have time to draft, revise, research, and polish your work during independent time.
• Prayer times will be added as we get closer to the event.

DAY ONE: Saturday, September 6, 2025

• 3pm – 5pm Eastern: Arrival and check in
• 5:30pm Eastern: Appetizers & Dinner
• Following dinner: Introductions and Welcome

DAY TWO: Sunday, September 7, 2025

Morning:

• Breakfast
• Working Retreat time: read, write, connect
• Optional writing sprint in the loft

Afternoon

• Lunch
• Working Retreat time: read, write, connect

Evening

• Appetizers & Dinner
• Fireside discussion (weather permitting)

DAY THREE: Monday, September 8, 2025

Morning:

• Breakfast
• Working Retreat time: read, write, connect
• Optional writing sprint in the loft

Afternoon

• Lunch
• Working Retreat time: read, write, connect
• GROUP PHOTO
• Optional art activity

Evening

• Appetizers & Dinner
• Fireside sharing (up to 500 words from a work in progress) (weather permitting)

DAY FOUR: Tuesday, September 9, 2025

Morning:

• Breakfast
• Working Retreat time: read, write, connect
• Closing discussion with storytellers

Afternoon

• Lunch & Farewells

About the Highlights Foundation Retreat Center

Halal meals for this program will be served by our kitchen team. The kitchen requests your dietary needs, including allergies and sensitivities, upon registration.

All in-person Highlights Foundation workshops and retreats (including this one) are held at our Retreat Center: The Barn at Boyds Mills.  This site was the home of the original founders of Highlights for Children Garry and Caroline Myers, and is located in the Poconos Mountains of Pennsylvania on the traditional lands of the Lenape Nation.

The Highlights Foundation strives for a safe and inclusive environment. You will have access to our Community Standards prior to the retreat where we ask for your respectful engagement with fellow creatives, including our faculty and staff.